In the heart of Italy, and a reference point for the Mediterranean, the Ports of the Rome and Lazio network, consisting of the ports of Civitavecchia, Fiumicino and Gaeta, aim at rationalising and integrating the resources of the individual ports of call and therewith encouraging maritime transport and traffic growth, thanks to the expansion of the offers and the specialisations of each of the ports in the network. The logic of the system makes it possible to offer national and international customers a plurality of opportunities in different sectors: from the passenger, cruise and cabotage sectors, to commercial traffic of all kinds (from solid and liquid bulk to new cars, from foodstuffs to containers). The ports of Rome and Lazio are at the centre of Italy, in what is estimated to be the second largest market area in the country and the fifth largest in Europe. In light of the important development opportunities that have arisen in recent times (inclusion of the port of Civitavecchia among the 'Core' ports of the TEN-T network and the projects envisaged by the National Recovery and Resilience Plan), the decision to focus on a European project such as 'YEP MED', which is one of the employment development programmes , has proven to be a winning one. The project has now been running for over two years and is progressing rapidly towards achieving its objectives.

The entire port community of Civitavecchia has always strongly believed in the YEP MED project, in which the synergy between partners in the Mediterranean area is a winning combination; in light of the very objectives of the Lazio port network in terms of further traffic growth in the coming years in particular. These objectives fit perfectly with the final results expected from the project, with reference to the vocational training of young people and women to be included in the sector's employment contexts.

During the last Steering Committee of YEP MED, which was held at the headquarters of the Port Authority of the Central-Northern Tyrrhenian Sea (the administrative authority behind the Ports of Rome and Lazio) at the start of December 2022, partners from the seven participating Mediterranean countries illustrated the results achieved so far, opening up discussions on how the work will continue once the project is completed. As far as Civitavecchia is concerned, around 200 students have participated in each of the two editions of "Vocational Training" and "Occupational Training" courses. The same forecast is planned for 2023, the final year of the project. The last Vocational Training will begin on the 26th of January and will continue until mid-February with the final day dedicated to visiting the terminals of the logistics and port area and the awarding of diplomas. In the meantime, many of those who completed the courses have already completed apprenticeships in companies from the sector and some of them have been hired. Thanks to YEP MED, young men and women from all over Italy have acquired and will continue to acquire the necessary knowledge to enable them to be the protagonists of change.

The project also represents a unique experience of cultural exchanges and particular knowledge of peers from different realities, with perspectives that extend beyond Europe. It is an important and tangible example of how Mediterranean integration can be fostered using the tool of youth relations and exchanges of experiences.

In Civitavecchia we would like, therefore, in the light of the difficult economic-employment situation brought about by the pandemic, that the implementation and end result of the project will bring about more skilled jobs for many young men and women. We are confident that the YEP MED experience will be an important part, in the maritime port sector, of the continent's economic recovery plan